Family Tree (as of March 1, 2019)
A "brief" bit on the history of our farm
The "farm" we live on has been in continuous ownership within our Dolezal family for over 100 years. Recently, I made an attempt to "describe" a "bit" of the history of our farm.
Below is a "button" to click if you are interested in reading the "bit" of history for Bittersweet Ranch.
Below is a "button" to click if you are interested in reading the "bit" of history for Bittersweet Ranch.
A Legacy for the value of education
The photo on the left is of a Diploma my great-grandfather, Joseph E. Dolezal, received in 1887 from the Northern Indiana Business Institute. Joseph would have been 19 years old at the time and would have had to travel from Pleasant Hill, Nebraska (Wilber, Nebraska area) to attend the Institute. Two years after graduating he would travel by horse to participate in the 1889 Oklahoma Land Run.
Joseph's example for the value of education has served as legacy to our family for over 130 years. Actually, there is evidence the legacy for education began with Joseph's father, Jan Dolezal. Jan served on the school board of a county school in Pleasant Hill, Nebraska.
Joseph's example for the value of education has served as legacy to our family for over 130 years. Actually, there is evidence the legacy for education began with Joseph's father, Jan Dolezal. Jan served on the school board of a county school in Pleasant Hill, Nebraska.
A bit of family history...Teddy
While Teddy is not human or blood relative he is part of family history. Teddy is about 64 or 65
years old and he is as loyal and loving as anyone could ask for. Yes, this special teddy bear has made
it through all of our moves, survived the '99 tornado, and continues with his presence today.
Our married life...Reflecting on the early days of our marriage
The Gift of Grandkids
We are blessed with wonderful, loving grandchildren and thankful for the "gift" of each one of them.
The bond we have with each one is special and the joyful memories
created together are everlasting.
Thanks be to God for grandchildren!
The bond we have with each one is special and the joyful memories
created together are everlasting.
Thanks be to God for grandchildren!
Our Loving Family
Our immediate family is composed of three grown children (Amy, Joshua, and Sarah), two sons-in-law, a daughter-in-law, and 14 grandchildren. We are blessed with loving family and are able to enjoy each others company fairly often.
Our family heritage (on the Dolezal side of our family) goes back to the Czech Republic. Our great-great grandparents (Jan and Helena Dolezal) traveled by passenger steamship from the Baltic Sea to New York in 1867.
Our family heritage (on the Dolezal side of our family) goes back to the Czech Republic. Our great-great grandparents (Jan and Helena Dolezal) traveled by passenger steamship from the Baltic Sea to New York in 1867.
Family History
Our paternal family history that we know of goes back to the 1800's and Czechoslovakia. Jan & Helena Dolezal (my great-great grandparents) immigrated to America in 1867. They may have wanted to come to America earlier but had to wait until the U.S. Civil War ended (as the eastern ports of the U.S. were closed to foreign entry while the war was going on). They traveled to America via a steamship from the Baltic Ocean to New York City (Castle Gardens immigration center)...a two-month long voyage. Upon arrival in the U.S. they traveled (by train I believe) to Oxford Junction, Iowa where friends from Czechoslovakia had settled. After a short time they moved to Nebraska to take advantage of the Homestead Act and acquire their own farm land. The farm they settled on was in the area of Pleasant Hill, Nebraska (approximately 7 miles NW of Wilber, Nebraska). Our great-grandfather, Joseph Edward Dolezal was born in Pleasant Hill shortly after the family settled there.
If you are interested in reading what I have put together on the history of our family you can click on the button below to access the Family History document. Otherwise, starting under the button there are some of the early history tidbits.
If you are interested in reading what I have put together on the history of our family you can click on the button below to access the Family History document. Otherwise, starting under the button there are some of the early history tidbits.
Given the family heritage and value for owning your own land, Joseph would find that the best opportunity for him would be to participate in the Oklahoma Land Run of 1889. Joseph, two of his brothers, and some friends would travel to Oklahoma Territory to participate in the Run. Joseph and his friends promised one another that if any of their land claims got challenged after the Run, each would testify in support of one another. James Dolezal, one of the two brothers making the trip was stationed on some of the property Joseph and his friends wanted to claim and, sure enough, the claim that Joseph staked was challenged (as were some of the friend's claims). There is a lot of good information on this and I will share it in later posts.
These photos indicate the location of where Joseph staked his claim during the 1889 Land Run.
Joseph would have to give up his claim and wait 4 years to participate in the Cherokee Strip Land Run (which includes the location of our present day farm and home. He worked for the Oklahoma City Police Department while he waited for the time to pass. Joseph met Mary Josephine Kasl while living in Oklahoma City and they would be married there.
Joseph registered for the Cherokee Strip run at the registration booth near what is now Orlando, Ok. He decided to enter the Run area via riding the top of a train and when the train stopped in what was to be Perry, Ok. he jumped off and ran east to stake his claim. He staked a claim to property located at the area of 3rd & Birch in Perry. The local officials informed him that the spot he claimed was to be part of a city park. They exchanged him two lots across the street (west) of the park for his claim. This is where Joseph and his family established roots…301 Birch Street (also, referred to as 201 3rd Street).
Joseph registered for the Cherokee Strip run at the registration booth near what is now Orlando, Ok. He decided to enter the Run area via riding the top of a train and when the train stopped in what was to be Perry, Ok. he jumped off and ran east to stake his claim. He staked a claim to property located at the area of 3rd & Birch in Perry. The local officials informed him that the spot he claimed was to be part of a city park. They exchanged him two lots across the street (west) of the park for his claim. This is where Joseph and his family established roots…301 Birch Street (also, referred to as 201 3rd Street).
Here is a photo of the house Joseph and Mary built soon after the Land Run.
The house still stands in Perry though it is no longer owned by any of the family.
The first job Joseph had in Perry was as a blacksmith (in a small shop just off the southeast corner of what is the Perry Square.
In 1902 he was elected County Clerk. He served in this position until 1908.
In 1908 Joseph joined with William Lamb to open a abstract business. The office was in the second building west of the corner of 6th & Cedar on the square (south side of Cedar).
In 1902 he was elected County Clerk. He served in this position until 1908.
In 1908 Joseph joined with William Lamb to open a abstract business. The office was in the second building west of the corner of 6th & Cedar on the square (south side of Cedar).
I have the “Bill of Sale” where great granddad and William Lamb purchased the Noble County Abstract business (the articles of personal property like abstract records, supplies, typewriter, cabinets, chairs, desks, stoves, racks for abstract books, etc. ) from H. C. Pouder, I. W. Robins, and W. H. Pomeroy. The purchase price was $2,000. The deal was finalized on May 18, 1908 (Oklahoma became a State in 1907). The building was referred to as the Hanson and Dennis building and it was located on the north side of the Perry square. I assume great granddad and Mr. Lamb did not open business in the Hanson and Dennis building but, in the office located on the southeast part of the square.
Over time, Great Grandfather and Grandmother would acquire 8 farms in Noble County. They would deed a farm to each of their 8 children. The farm we now own and live on was the farm deeded to William (Bill) Taft Dolezal...Don and Gary, (our second cousins and Bill's sons) inherited the farm upon Bill's passing. We bought the farm from Don and Gary in 1998.
Over time, Great Grandfather and Grandmother would acquire 8 farms in Noble County. They would deed a farm to each of their 8 children. The farm we now own and live on was the farm deeded to William (Bill) Taft Dolezal...Don and Gary, (our second cousins and Bill's sons) inherited the farm upon Bill's passing. We bought the farm from Don and Gary in 1998.